Travel news live: Christmas getaway delays as snow hits M62 and trains, ferries and flights cancelled
RAC estimates 22.7 million drivers will hit the roads as people get away for Christmas
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Your support makes all the difference.Thousands of travellers hoping to reach home for Christmas have had to organise last minute alternatives, as flights, ferries and trains continue to be cancelled.
Over 100 flights at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, have been cancelled on Sunday, while dozens of ferry routes in Scotland and Ireland are no longer running due to the bad weather.
Snow overnight has caused disruption on the M62 with one lane closed, as the RAC advise drivers to be cautious as millions take to the motorways this wekend.
Eighty of the Heathrow cancellations are on British Airways, involving short-haul domestic and European flights. Three round-trips to Amsterdam and Glasgow have been grounded.
Rail passengers are also facing another chaotic Sunday as Northern cancels all trains on 11 routes.
It comes as weather warnings kick in for parts of the UK on Saturday as millions more people get away for Christmas.Yellow warnings for wind are in place from 7am on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday in the North West, the North East, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
Friday 20 December is set to be the busiest day of the winter on motorways and trunk roads according to rival motoring organisation the AA, which predicts a record 23.7 million car journeys.
The organisation warns Saturday 21 and Monday 23 December will also be extremely busy, with 22.7 million on each day. The RAC, meanwhile, predicts 1-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Monday will be the busiest times.
The Independent has analysed AA figures to calculate that one in seven motorists plans to drive more than 100 miles on “frantic Friday”, 20 December.
Find out more about Christmas road congestion here:
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
Exclusive: Trains, boats and planes will be different over the festive season – with strikes and engineering work adding to the chaos
What should you expect from a yellow weather warning?
Yellow wind warnings have been put in place on Saturday and Sunday, covering much of the UK as rain and disruptive winds are set to hit the country over the weekend.
The Met Office says that people can expect some delays to public transport, as well as disruption to travel by road.
On Saturday, a small chance of significant delays or even cancellations to services including ferry and air, whilst some roads, bridges and causeways may be closed.
On Sunday, some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely.
The weather experts have advised those travelling to give themselves the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus timetables and amending travel plans if necessary.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Rebekah Hicks, said: “This period of disruptive weather coincides with a busy period on UK roads as the festive getaway starts for many.
“The area of low pressure will bring rain and strong winds on Saturday, with a chance of significant disruption especially to transport networks across the north, including the potential for ferry cancellations.
“The strongest winds are expected across northern Scotland on Saturday afternoon and evening, with the potential for gusts of 80 to 85 mph in coastal districts.
“The strong winds will be more widespread on Sunday with gusts of 50-60 mph across much of northern, central and western UK, locally higher for coasts and across high ground.”
What time will Christmas Eve trains finish?
Christmas Eve will mostly be everyone’s final chance to reach their Christmas destination for the holidays, as no passenger trains will run in the UK on Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be similar, except for some rare exceptions.
On 24 December, trains will start to roll into their depots ahead of Christmas from late afternoon onwards.
The last direct trains on key intercity routes are:
- London King’s Cross-Edinburgh: 5.30pm/Edinburgh-London King’s Cross: 4.13pm
- London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly: 5.55pm/Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston: 6.13pm
- London Paddington-Cardiff Central: 7.48pm/Cardiff Central-London Paddington: 8.18pm
- London Victoria-Gatwick Airport: 8.45pm/Gatwick Airport-London Victoria: 7.32pm
- Bristol Temple Meads-Leeds: 4.35pm/Leeds-Bristol Temple Meads: 4.11pm
- Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen: 6.41pm/Aberdeen-Glasgow Queen Street: 6.36pm
All Caledonian Sleeper services are cancelled until 27 December.
Where will the worst traffic jams be?
The AA has released its predictions of where the worst snarl ups will be on the roads over the festive period and which days drivers can expect the most traffic.
Today, Friday December 20 is expected to see the most cars on the road, with an estimated 23.7 million drivers planning a trip.
The breakdown rescue company predicts that the joint second worst days for congestion over the festive period will be tomorrow Saturday December 21 and Monday December 23, each with 22.7 million drivers on the road.
It has identified several likely congestion hotspots, including:
- M4/M5 interchange near Bristol
- M25 near Heathrow airport, west London
- M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham
- M60 near the Trafford Centre, Manchester
- M1 near Meadowhall, Sheffield
See the AA’s map of the worst traffic jams:
When and where to expect the worst traffic jams this Christmas
The busiest days have also been revealed
How to avoid this airport luggage mistake this Christmas
Heathrow Airport, the UK’s largest and busiest aviation hub, has advised travellers not to wrap gifts on their website as “as security staff may wish to view them”.
The airport said in a blog post: “Wrapped gifts can be viewed as concealed packages and may need to be screened, opened and searched by airport staff. If you are taking wrapping paper and gift bags with you, make sure they fold flat so they won’t get creased. And if you’re expecting a festive haul on The Big Day, make sure you pack a swag bag to bring them all back safely!”
Other airports and airlines have also offered up similar advice.
Natalie Wilson has more:
The airport luggage mistake which could cost you this Christmas
Those taking off should put down the bows before they board this December
Weather warnings issued
Weather warnings have been issued for parts of the UK as the Christmas getaway begins.
Yellow warnings for wind have been issued in the North West and the North East, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland from 7am on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday.
Sunday’s warning will also include London, the South East and South West, the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and all of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Westerly winds are forecast to pick up over Saturday with 50-60mph gusts expected, with a small chance of some reaching 80mph.
The strong winds will be more widespread on Sunday, meteorologists said, but the weather will be “exceptionally mild” by Christmas Day.
Euston station expected to be ‘extremely busy’ over Christmas, rail authority warns
As many make their way back up North or down south into London during the Christmas period as they come and go visiting friends and family or making their way back to work are warned some rail routes will be very busy.
Passengers travelling between the North and London are advised that London Euston is expected to be extremely busy.
Christmas rail work, which is affecting journeys into London Paddington and London St Pancras stations, means more passengers are expected to travel through Euston station over the festive period.
Network Rail has recommended that passengers travelling to or from Euston on the West Coast Main Line, are advised to travel before Tuesday 24 December or after Thursday 2 January.
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